Hope you are all doing great my Spirit Friends and that this day is positive for you! You can use this title to stick with a plan for today. Your reactions and responses do matter but it’s all in how we control them. Funny little back-up story here…. I actually got this idea while in the dentist’s office waiting on my daughter! I was reading a celebrity magazine and this idea just popped in my head! Kinda weird, huh? It worked and the idea just kept going from there. So, remember that thoughts can come anytime from anywhere to you for guidance and direction. Even at a dentist’s office which has been my second home these last few years…. So glad we are almost done with braces!!!!

•      O.K. I said I’d explain the difference between these two words of react and respond. Is there a difference? I believe there is but you can decide for yourself. This is just my “version” but it’s something I’ve come to realize over time. I’ll list some traits and then do some possible scenarios…. Your reactions are this: emotions, heart centered, impulsive, outward, intuitive, and direct. Your responses are more like this: logic, head centered, controlled, inner, thought based, and thinking.   There can be some minor exceptions but to me, that’s it in a nutshell. Your reactions toward something could stay the same but after a bit, the head gets involved to learn just a little more.

Here’s a scenario: Your best friend just moved into her first house and she’s so excited to share the news with you. You react by being so happy since this is something she’s wanted for quite a while and now has enough money to afford. She talks your ear off about the place and you make plans to visit when she finally gets all settled in. The anticipation is building as you get closer to seeing her new home. She greets you at the door and you can’t wait to get in. Once inside, you notice it is nothing like you pictured. It’s so tiny and narrow and even though she’s unpacked, you can’t get over the clutter. Any little clutter will matter in a place this size you are thinking. Your friend is overjoyed you are there and none of those things matter to her. Your response to her needs to be positive right? You tell her what she wants to hear even though you totally think she could do better…..

Hmmmm. Let’s think about this for a minute. Haven’t we all been in situations similar? Maybe not exactly of course but kinda a little am sure. Your emotions are of excitement and then get totally switched around after being in a situation. Your logic then kicks in thinking that this is all wrong and can’t possibly be true, even for a friend. We rarely think of the other side at first with logic but we share the emotion. What I mean is that those two friends shared the excitement but then obviously not the logic. What can we do? Well, acting on impulse would be the friend telling her BFF that her place is cluttered and too small, not what she pictured, etc., etc., etc…. How would the other feel? Crushed? Maybe she’d actually agree but not really care. Aren’t we supposed to be honest with our friends even if it hurts them?

Here’s what we have to do FIRST before acting. I NEED to work on it all too folks! I mean, if your friend asks your opinion– what can you say? Keep that reaction out of it and think more… This means you have to know more about HER situation. Maybe this was all she could afford right now even though it wasn’t what you thought of. Maybe also it’s all the space she needs for one person even though you’d like more. Maybe too she likes clutter (and you already would know this about a friend, people don’t change!) Your HEART and HEAD need that balance of working together all the time and it’s hard, I tell ya! Put yourself in the opposite position. What if it were YOU with this house. What would your friend’s reaction and then response be? It might be totally different then yours and even though you are BFF’s, that’s fine! After all, we do have different opinions and tastes.

There are those times when the reaction and response does stay the time. Maybe you find out your daughter and her husband are having a baby! They’ve been trying and wanting and now it’s real!!! Again, this situation could be different with pregnancies but I’m using this example….. You are overjoyed and over the moon for them so that excitement or REACTION isn’t going to go away with your RESPONSE… Over time though, your head is in the game. She has to take care of herself and the baby with taking those vitamins, not becoming too stressed, seeing the doctor and all that. Your reaction is that of a concerned parent excited to become that grandparent but still praying all goes well and remains healthy.

We go through thousands of life circumstances all the time and everyday of our lives. I know I’ve said before that your intuition which is heart centered doesn’t lie but you still need to control it when others are concerned. If we take the two BFF’s again, the only reason your intuition would matter there is if she were in danger or you knew she had some “eccentric” neighbors, or even that the place had negative energy in some way. Your friend might truly care what you think and you CAN be honest but get your head involved. You can word it like this: ” It’s seems cozy but perfect for one.”  Also you can add: “You seem to have everything in its place.”  See what I did there? We need to act like this more and we don’t! Our hearts just feel and then let it all out. It seems so wrong but us intuitives just are that way. We never want to hurt feelings so sometimes we don’t say anything or just lie. I ALWAYS got that pit in my stomach when I lied and hated it. Most extroverts won’t even care and just say what they want. I know for me, there are times I wish I could be like that but then I know better…. My heart is always in the right place but nowadays, the head has caught up. I just picture the head thinking:” it’s about time you let me be involved too!” 

It makes no difference really if you are more extroverted or introverted, you still need to balance that reaction with the response. Good or bad, it all does matter. I do realize you will all have your own stories and perhaps add some BUTS to mine but ultimately, you have to make the best decision for all involved. Everyone’s relationships vary and we can’t control how others will respond. We can only control our own. Just keep that in mind when you find yourself in a situation that requires to have that heart and head working as a team. YOU might not like something but choose your answer carefully. The REACTION and RESPONSE are different but can complement each other very well if used in the right way.

I do hope this post serves you this week and feel free to comment or share with a friend! I would love to know how these two words have made a difference for you and that we all need guidance all the time. Wishing everyone a great day! (:

~~~ Next week, I will be sharing what I believe are the THREE Keys to Life.. Don’t worry, it’s nothing too “out there” for you to understand. Heck, I’m not Buddha!!! Just my little observations about what can work with yourself, others, and the Universe. No dentist office this time!!! Stay true and stay tuned Spirit Friends!!!